Phillips Elementary

In Mary Hale's fourth- and fifth-grade class at Dr. Phillips Elementary School this fall, children sent letters around the world and collected in return postcards of tourist hotspots and tons of destination data.In becoming aware of places and people outside Orange County, the students were accomplishing basic geography goals for kids their age.What Hale's class did with its research, however, isn't the norm in fourth and fifth grades. Each child assembled his or her postcards and city information into a travelogue scrapbook.

One Orlando fifth-grader has found a way to improve reading choices for students in other schools -- just by asking for help from her classmates. Kate Pence, 10, led a book drive that collected 1,200 books from classmates at Dr. Phillips Elementary School in Orlando. On Friday, she donated them to Maxey Elementary School in Winter Garden. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you," Maxey students said after gathering in their media center to receive the new additions. Some shook Kate's hand. Kate started her book drive three years ago while she was in third grade.

One Orlando fifth-grader has found a way to improve reading choices for students in other schools -- just by asking for help from her classmates. Kate Pence, 10, led a book drive that collected 1,200 books from classmates at Dr. Phillips Elementary School in Orlando. On Friday, she donated them to Maxey Elementary School in Winter Garden. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you," Maxey students said after gathering in their media center to receive the new additions. Some shook Kate's hand. Kate started her book drive three years ago while she was in third grade.

The escalating fight over school crowding among Orlando, Orange County and the Orange County School Board may end with tougher rules on the books. Two county commissioners are calling for changes that would make it harder for developers to build subdivisions that would add more kids to already crowded schools. The push comes three weeks after a split Orlando City Council, over the objections of the school superintendent, rezoned land to allow 160 townhomes near over-capacity schools. "We need to refute the notion that cities have a manifest destiny to expand even when schools are overcrowded," County Commissioner Ted Edwards said.

New principals have been assigned at six Orange County schools.The changes are the result of two recent retirements that created vacancies, said Diane Taylor, senior specialist for instructional information.The two retirees were: Ken Jones, director of media-technological services, and Bob Lengauer, principal of Winter Park Junior High School.Betty-Jo Spurrier, who had been principal at Dr. Phillips Elementary, will replace Jones. Spurrier has been replaced by Dell W. Shadgett. An acting principal has been named to handle Lengauer's job.Taylor said mid-year moves are ''not unusual,'' adding that more changes could take place in the coming months as new schools begin to open throughout the county.

I LIVE in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Canada's west coast. I want to thank two wonderful youngsters who did something for me that I won't forget.My wife and I were traveling to Fort Lauderdale to begin a Caribbean cruise. After arriving in beautiful Orlando, we planned to spend three days at Disney's Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center, then start the cruise at Fort Lauderdale. Fate intervened, and on Nov. 21 I had a small heart attack and was taken from the Peabody Hotel to Sand Lake Hospital.

CHILDREN'S PROGRAM. A three-day holiday program featuring arts and crafts, story-telling and special activities will be offered for elementary schoolchildren. Parents can take their children from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 26-28 to Dommerich Elementary School, 1900 Choctaw Trail, and Lake Sybelia Elementary School, 600 Sandspur Road. The program, sponsored by the parks and recreation department, will offer child care before and after hours at no extra charge. The cost is $15 per child and children must take their own lunches.

Dr. Phillips High will be the name of a new school in southwest Orange County set to open in September 1987.The school board chose the name Tuesday night over such suggestions as Orlando High, Turkey Ridge and Sand Lake.Dr. Philip Phillips was a citrus pioneer and civic leader who came to Orlando in 1903 and died in 1959.Jim Hinson of the Dr. Phillips Foundation urged the board to ''solidify the community'' by naming the school after the pioneer. Development of the area began in 1959 with Bay Hill, he said.

Parents in several southwest Orange County communities have complained to deputy sheriffs that during the past two months a man in a brown or copper car has tried to pick up children.Residents said the man, described as in his 60s and very friendly, has been seen in several neighborhoods along Conroy-Windermere and Turkey Lake roads, usually between 2 and 7 p.m.Some children have told their parents that the stranger has motioned to them to come to his car and in some cases has asked them to go with him to Walt Disney World or other tourist attractions, deputies said.

It was early afternoon, and the traffic was roaring in four directions just outside Dr. Phillips Elementary School. Students leaving nearby Dr. Phillips High, school buses, parents picking up their kids, walking kids and bike-riding kids were all competing for roadway, and the only person helping the young students cross safely was a physical education teacher forced to give up his planning period. In a survey this year, a third of the elementary school's students said they do not feel safe walking to and from school.

It was early afternoon, and the traffic was roaring in four directions just outside Dr. Phillips Elementary School. Students leaving nearby Dr. Phillips High, school buses, parents picking up their kids, walking kids and bike-riding kids were all competing for roadway, and the only person helping the young students cross safely was a physical education teacher forced to give up his planning period. In a survey this year, a third of the elementary school's students said they do not feel safe walking to and from school.

Barbara Skorija Hyde, who three months ago informed Zellwood Elementary teachers that she was taking a leave of absence to undergo treatment for cancer, has died.Called ``Bobbie'' by friends, the music teacher-turned-principal had turned 50 last month.``We're all devastated,'' said Beth Sindler, a first-grade teacher at Zellwood and wife of Orange County Commissioner Bob Sindler. ``She was a friend to a lot of us, as well as our principal.''After learning of Hyde's death Thursday, grief counselors were brought to the school Friday to console children and teachers.

In Mary Hale's fourth- and fifth-grade class at Dr. Phillips Elementary School this fall, children sent letters around the world and collected in return postcards of tourist hotspots and tons of destination data.In becoming aware of places and people outside Orange County, the students were accomplishing basic geography goals for kids their age.What Hale's class did with its research, however, isn't the norm in fourth and fifth grades. Each child assembled his or her postcards and city information into a travelogue scrapbook.

Linda Sutherland often says that the only person who likes change is a wet baby.She ought to know. Sutherland and her fellow Orange County School Board members didn't like it when one elementary school recently asked to switch from year-round school back to a traditional calendar.But change - wrought by advisory councils of teachers, parents and even students - is the name of the game in Florida schools today.Throughout the state, councils at elementary, middle and high schools are completing blueprints for change, in which parents and teachers, theoretically, can mold curriculum or services to a specific student population.

HUNGERFORDFINE ARTS FEST. A medieval falconer, dulcimer players and performers from the Orlando School of Cultural Dance are part of the fun planned for the eighth annual Children's Fine Arts Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Denton Johnson Community Center in Eatonville. Children ages 4 to 12 are especially welcome at the fair, which is sponsored by Hungerford Elementary.EVANS HIGHHEALTH FAIR. ''Let's Take a Health Cruise'' is the theme of a health fair at Evans High from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

CHILDREN'S PROGRAM. A three-day holiday program featuring arts and crafts, story-telling and special activities will be offered for elementary schoolchildren. Parents can take their children from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 26-28 to Dommerich Elementary School, 1900 Choctaw Trail, and Lake Sybelia Elementary School, 600 Sandspur Road. The program, sponsored by the parks and recreation department, will offer child care before and after hours at no extra charge. The cost is $15 per child and children must take their own lunches.

The Orange County school system will present options to parents this week for assigning students to two new elementary schools planned for Apopka and southwest Orange.The school board has decided that the greatest need for new elementary schools is in Apopka and southwest Orange because rapid growth in both areas has crowded hundreds of extra students into schools.The schools would open in the fall of 1988 but would relieve only about half the crowding projected for the 1988-89 school year in both areas, according to the proposal that district officials will present to parents.

Linda Sutherland often says that the only person who likes change is a wet baby.She ought to know. Sutherland and her fellow Orange County School Board members didn't like it when one elementary school recently asked to switch from year-round school back to a traditional calendar.But change - wrought by advisory councils of teachers, parents and even students - is the name of the game in Florida schools today.Throughout the state, councils at elementary, middle and high schools are completing blueprints for change, in which parents and teachers, theoretically, can mold curriculum or services to a specific student population.

I LIVE in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Canada's west coast. I want to thank two wonderful youngsters who did something for me that I won't forget.My wife and I were traveling to Fort Lauderdale to begin a Caribbean cruise. After arriving in beautiful Orlando, we planned to spend three days at Disney's Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center, then start the cruise at Fort Lauderdale. Fate intervened, and on Nov. 21 I had a small heart attack and was taken from the Peabody Hotel to Sand Lake Hospital.

The traditional Thanksgiving feast took a new twist this week at Orange County schools as hundreds of students celebrated the holiday with popcorn, banana bread, bacon and tuna dishes.Students also decorated halls and classrooms, composed holiday songs, performed Thanksgiving skits and dressed as Pilgrims and Indians.At Blankner Elementary School, some youngsters used the Thanksgiving Day theme to learn more about early settlers and more about the government, the military and the roles of men and women at the time.